Ride & Handling

The optional Sport Appearance Package includes 18-inch aluminum wheels and a
sport suspension, and the result is a notably firm ride Ч think all-wheel-drive
Acura TL suspension tuning, not Lexus ES. Equipped this way, the MKZ faithfully
tells you about all the rough patches in the road, whether you want to know
about them or not. I suspect many buyers considering a Lincoln would prefer not
to know about them Ч especially because there isn't sports-car-like handling to
go along with the taut ride quality. I haven't driven an MKZ with the regular
suspension and standard 17-inch wheels, but I suspect it offers better ride
comfort.

Despite the sportier setup, the MKZ cruises smoothly on the highway when the
pavement is good. The interior is quiet, though you start to hear a little wind
noise when approaching 80 mph.

It doesn't take a lot of extra care to steer the MKZ Ч whether you're
traveling country roads or the highway. The main reason is that the steering has
a solid, weighty feel when traveling in a straight path that makes it easy to
keep the car between the lines. This heft also prevents you from inadvertently
jostling the wheel.

The MKZ's steering feel is different from what you'll find in a Lexus ES,
which has well-greased, light-effort steering that's become synonymous with
Toyota's luxury brand. The MKZ doesn't go that route, and I like it for that.
Its steering is by no means too heavy, but the extra effort needed to turn the
wheel makes you feel connected to the car in a way the Lexus can't match.
Overall, the MKZ's steering feel and response are among its better
characteristics.

See also:

Using the right bulbs
Replacement bulbs are specified in the chart below. Headlamp bulbs must
be marked with an authorized УD.O.T.Ф for North America and an УEФ for
Europe to ensure lamp performance, light brightness a ...

Checking engine coolant
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the
intervals listed in scheduled maintenance information. The coolant
concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and di ...

Anti-theft indicator
The anti-theft indicator is located in the instrument panel cluster.
Х When the ignition is in the off
position, the indicator will flash
once every two seconds to
indicate the SecuriLock sys ...